Ernie Booth

Ernest Edward Booth (24 February 1876 – 18 October 1935) was a New Zealand rugby union player. A fullback and three-quarter, Booth represented Otago at a provincial level between 1896 and 1907, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, from 1905 to 1907. He played 24 matches for the All Blacks including three internationals, and was a member of the Original All Blacks on their 1905–06 tour of the British Isles, France and North America.^[1]

Booth moved to Sydney and played for New South Wales between 1908 and 1909.^[1] He toured as a press correspondent with the Australian rugby union team on their 1908–09 tour of Britain, and while there played 5 matches for Leicester becoming the first non-British international to play for the club.^[2][1][3] He served with the Australian forces during World War I as secretary in the YMCA.^[1]

In the 1920s, Booth was appointed as a professional coach by the Southland Rugby Union, developing the game in that region.^[1] In 1924, he accompanied the All Blacks on their tour of Britain, Ireland and France as the representative of the Australian Press Association.^[3] He then toured with New Zealand Māori on the British and French legs of their 1926–27 tour, reporting for newspapers in the North Island.^[3]

Booth died in the Christchurch suburb of St Albans on 18 October 1935,^[1][3][4] and he was buried in the Oamaru Old Cemetery.^[5]